Endless Night [PIC 2016]

As her tears began to subside, the blurry trees above came gently into focus. Their branches stretched upwards, yearning for a fleeting glimpse of light in the ashen sky. For years they had stood in their apportioned spot, prisoners of this bleak landscape. Their only chance was to head up, up, away from the confines of their earthen cell.

The damp leaves on the woodland floor had soaked her to the skin. The tears flowing from swollen eyes had burned as they fell, their warmth a pitiful contrast to the dank chill she felt surround her. She craved the times that her tears came, in a twisted way. They offered relief from her insensate existence, a chance to feel again in her deadened world.

She began to wipe the bracken from her clothes and then stopped. It didn't matter any more. The rituals of being civilised were hard habits to break; they had never been for her anyway, they were always for others' approval. Now she didn't need anybody's approval, but she hungered for it nonetheless. She kept herself away from the others. The pity in their eyes had been hard enough to bear, but had she known what was to follow, she would have welcomed it. For pity soon leads to frustration and from frustration comes avoidance. And so now, in an unspoken pact, she kept herself away. She rose from the richly scented earth, where the worms lingered inches below, waiting to serve their Universal master and turn all back to dust.

As she walked back up the glen, a stag caught her eye. Silhouetted against the winter sky, he stood defiant of all she portrayed. Poised momentarily on feral limbs, his chest thrust out, he turned and fled from this Cailleach who stumbled towards him. Her sorrow affronted his sense of vibrancy and hope for the spring. His exquisite form disappeared back into the woods and left her alone again, heading for home.



Home had once been different and to think of it as it had been then had become intolerable. And so she sought not to think, only to do. Once a year it became excruciating and she could only run from the pain, run until she fell deep in the woods where no one would hear her screams. Thick scars around both wrists attested to her torment, grotesque jewellery which she wore in secret.

A dusty mirror faced the wall in her home. She could no longer watch herself breathe without feeling the sharp pain that came from knowing that her little girl could not. For three short years her life had been filled with joy and baking and toys and laughter. Song had filled their home together, little nightclothes warming on the fireguard, morning sunlight streaming into a sleepy bedroom. All of these had gone, ravaged by disease, by a cruel twist of fate that had taken her little girl away.



Restless as always, she walked out to the storeroom. The cold mist lay around her shoulders, offering cold comfort in another endless moment. The dolls that she could not throw away stared back, unblinking in the gloom. She watched them as they lay frozen in limbo; impossible to throw them away but inconceivable to take them back to the house. They would remain in their purgatory for as long as she would, collaborators in this tragedy.

She reached for a tin tucked high on the top shelf. On the lid Lucifer reposed in marble, his leg shackled to the ground. She felt a gentle affinity with this beast, not quite human and abandoned by his kin. Inside this tin lay six photographs, now faded and creased but still able to pierce the numb veil around her heart. She glanced at them, not seeing the images just needing to feel them in her hand. She walked back to the house, to wait some more.

a reply to: beansidhe

Oh beanie girl......

That was so good, but also SO tragic to read!
Good stuff, to invoke that much emotion!!

Nice to see you in the contest, it's attracting a lot of talented writers!
S&F&good luck!!

jacy

a reply to: beansidhe

So poignant and touching!

Loved it!

Your status is well deserved!

a reply to: beansidhe

Great job, I like how you put your story together.👍🏽👍🏽👙👙

a reply to: jacygirl

Thank you and how lovely to see you! Blame Gordi for his heart-wrenching pictures.

I can't wait to read everyone else's now.

a reply to: TNMockingbird

a reply to: Quantum

Thank you both very much for your encouraging words and for taking the time to read. I've seen you both have stories too and I'm dying to read them both!

WOW that was possible one of the saddest story i have read for a long long time.. gave shills !
Reading and thinking how horrible life stories there can be and have been. So many stories untold and forgotten .

Thank you Beanie! I love how you can render such a deep emotion with words !

a reply to: dollukka

Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, dolluka! I'm really glad you enjoyed it.

a reply to: beansidhe

Palpable heartache. Very good. S&F!

- AB

a reply to: AboveBoard

Thanks for reading, AB and apologies for the heartache.
I'm going to catch up on more reading tonight!

B x

originally posted by: beansidhe
a reply to: jacygirl

Thank you and how lovely to see you! Blame Gordi for his heart-wrenching pictures.

I can't wait to read everyone else's now.

Aww Beans!
Next time it will be flowers and rainbows and sweet fluffy bunnies! NOT! LOL

That was awesome.
Doing exactly what a good short story should do.
Involving the reader, pulling them in and eliciting a strong reaction from them.
All done with style and flow.

I wonder how many people are googling "Cailleach" now?? LOL

Well Done my dear friend! Well Done!

Alba gu brath


Gx

PS - Jacy chose 2 of the pictures too! LOL

a reply to: Gordi The Drummer

Tapadh leat Gordi, for reading and for your kind words (and for your creepy pictures too ).
I'm really glad you stopped by to read, I'll be reading yours tonight hopefully.

You have a wonderful way with words! Touching!

S+F beansidhe .....wish I could give more !

So powerful and emotional
thank you

a reply to: Night Star

a reply to: cosmickat

Thank you both for reading, and also for your kind words. Coming from you two great writers, that is a fantastic compliment.

B x

a reply to: beansidhe

Once again you have drawn me in and elicited my emotions with your skillful writing. My plan was to read everyone's stories in one sitting but I am finding myself taking breaks in between. S/F

a reply to: grayeagle

There are so many great stories this time round, it's hard to fit them all into one sitting. Thanks for reading, and for your lovely comments - I'm hoping to read yours soon?

Hope all is well,

B x

a reply to: beansidhe

I am sitting this one out. I just lost a friend and need some time to process. I am trying to read everyone's stories and comment just to let everyone know how much I appreciate them.

a reply to: grayeagle

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that. It's so hard when people go away too soon.
The fact that you took the time to read everyone's stories and offer encouragement while you're still grieving speaks volumes about you, grayeagle. We're lucky to have you.

B x

beansidhe

Very well composed. I love how dark these stories all turned out.



Good job!